Assignment

Values & Virtues Workshop

Step 1: Identifying Values

• Take 5 minutes to list everything you value, including:

  • Things: Material possessions or experiences.

  • Emotions: Joy, love, contentment.

  • Character Traits: Kindness, empathy, curiosity.

  • Career Goals: Professional aspirations or ambitions.

  • Visions for a Better World: Dreams of societal improvement.

Key Values Identified

• Kindness: Treating others with compassion and respect.

• Curiosity: A desire to learn and explore new ideas.

• Growth: Personal and collective development, evolving over time.

• Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and innovate.

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

• Equality: Fairness and justice for all, regardless of background.

Step 2: Ends and Means

• Many values serve as means to an end. For example:

  • Connection (End): Building meaningful relationships.

    • Means: Trust, empathy, communication.

  • Growth (End): Continual personal development.

    • Means: Curiosity, challenges, self-reflection.

  • Freedom (End): Ability to make choices without restrictions.

  • Kindness (End): Care and respect for others.

    • Means: Compassion, understanding, patience.

Step 3: Defining Good and Bad Values

Good Values

• Reality-based

• Socially constructive

• Immediate and controllable

Bad Values

• Superstitious

• Socially destructive

• Not immediate or controllable

List Specific Values

• Good Values:

  • Self-respect

  • Curiosity

  • Kindness

  • Growth

  • Empathy

• Bad Values:

  • Perfectionism

  • Materialism

  • Control

  • People pleasing

  • Judgementalism

Step 4: Barrel Model of Culture

Analyzing Cultural Support for Values

• Infrastructure: The underlying systems that support values.

• Social Structure: Relationships and institutions that promote or hinder values.

• Superstructure: Cultural, ideological aspects that reinforce or challenge values.

  • Example: If a society values individual rights, laws and narratives support these ideals.

Step 5: Fischer's Five Elements

Evaluation of Cultural Provision

• Hope: Cultures often promote narratives of resilience.

• Opportunity: Access to education and career resources.

• Dignity: Respect and equality are emphasized.

• Fairness: Laws and societal expectations aim for justice.

• Commitment to Larger Purposes: Collective action and shared visions are encouraged.

Step 6: Equity in Cultural Provision

• Not everyone experiences these values equally due to systemic inequalities (race, class, gender).

• Aspiration vs. lived reality shows discrepancies in cultural ideals.

Step 7: Recommendations for Change

• Promote systemic and cultural reforms:

  • Economic Reforms: Aim for equal economic opportunities.

  • Legal Reforms: Ensure laws support all individuals fairly.

  • Social Reforms: Foster a culture that embodies hope and fairness for all.

Step 8: Potential Additions to Fischer's List

• No additional elements suggested.

Step 9: VIA Character Survey

• Reflection on feelings while completing the survey.

• Assessment of its accuracy based on personal experiences.

Step 10: Cultural Applicability of the Survey

• Belief that the survey would be beneficial across cultures.

Step 11: Character Traits Assessment

Top 3 Character Traits

1. Hope

2. Honesty

3. Kindness

Bottom 3 Character Traits

1. Forgiveness

2. Creativity

3. Fairness

Additional Traits

• Traits wished for higher ranking: Bravery and leadership.

Step 12: Personal Development Goals

Brainstorming Goals

• Short-term (5 yrs): Own a home aligning with personal goals.

• Medium-term (10 yrs): Travel and experience diverse cultures.

• Long-term (20 yrs): Cultivate wisdom and mentor future generations.

Goal Refinement

• Financial Goal: Save and invest 20% of monthly income for financial independence.

• Emotional Intelligence Goal: Developing wisdom and emotional intelligence.

• Family Goal: Aim for a successful family life by age 30.

Step 13: Cultural Support and Obstacles

• Analysis of how culture can support or create barriers to achieving goals.

• Strategies to leverage opportunities and address obstacles.